The FIA is under intense pressure from Ferrari, Audi, and Honda, who are pushing to change the decision on a loophole in the rules allegedly exploited by Mercedes in their 2026 F1 engine. The controversy surrounds the compression ratio, which is capped at 16:1 under the new regulations. However, Mercedes is accused of finding a way to exceed this limit when the engine is running, potentially giving them a significant performance advantage.
Ferrari, which has emerged as the most vocal challenger, formally wrote to the FIA requesting a review of the issue and calling for the engine to be banned as soon as possible. The Italian team claims that Mercedes’ innovation could provide an advantage of up to three-tenths of a second per lap, a significant margin in the competitive world of F1.
A meeting between the FIA and engine manufacturers is scheduled for January 22 to discuss the issue. The FIA has confirmed that discussions on the 2026 power units and chassis are ongoing, and they will ensure that the rules are understood and applied consistently by all teams.
The pressure on the FIA is mounting, with some manufacturers pushing for a mid-season rule change to ban the Mercedes engine. However, others argue that changing the rules mid-season could be unfair to teams that have already invested in their engines. The FIA faces a difficult decision, balancing the need to maintain a level playing field with the potential disruption caused by changing the rules.
The outcome of the meeting will have significant implications for the 2026 F1 season, with Mercedes and its customer teams, McLaren, Williams, and Alpine, potentially facing a major disadvantage if the engine is banned. Meanwhile, Ferrari and its allies are determined to ensure that the competition remains fair and that no team gains an unfair advantage.
Would you like to know more about the potential impact of the FIA’s decision on the 2026 F1 season? Or perhaps you’d like to know more about the technical details of the Mercedes engine and how it allegedly exploits the loophole.
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